IT is fair to say a Division Three play-off push was not on the mind of your average Kidderminster Harriers fan at the start of the season.

There was instead plenty of concern at the alarming financial cuts which were hitting Aggborough staff both on and off the field.

Faith in new boss Ian Britton and chairman Colin Youngjohns seemed to be in short supply.

The dreaded "relegation" word was even mentioned from some quarters.

Full credit to both Britton and Youngjohns then as Harriers find themselves 11th at the halfway point with only five defeats in 23 league games.

They even have the games in hand available to make the play-off zone and possibly even home in on the third automatic promotion spot.

But it is of course unwise to get carried away too soon when Harriers have the lowest budget for players in the division.

The result is a small squad which will always be fragile when faced with injuries and suspensions.

This is especially the case when fringe players have to either kick their heels on the bench or be loaned out to other clubs due to no reserve team.

When this is all taken into account, Harriers' start under the hard-working Britton has been all the more impressive.

They started solidly, but not spectacularly, with only one success, 4-3 at home to Exeter in late August, in the first nine games.

However, this run included a staggering six draws with defeats only suffered at promotion-chasing Rushden and Diamonds (3-1) and giants Nottingham Forest (4-0 in the Worthington Cup).

Losing to an impressive Forest seemed to inspire Harriers who recorded two good September away wins at Southend (2-0) and Bristol Rovers (2-1).

A sweet 1-0 triumph over Jan Molby's Hull spelt a quick end to the Dane's new venture after quitting Aggborough as he was sacked by the Yorkshire club soon after.

Britton was busy banishing memories of Conference-winning Molby by claiming the manager of the month award in October.

Harriers enjoyed excellent successes over Shrewsbury (3-2), Dagenham (3-1), Cambridge (2-1) and Swansea (4-0) with loan signing John Melligan particularly influential.

The old curse of the manager award struck though as the first November game in Torquay was called off.

A stretched Harriers squad could not find a league win during the month and exited the FA Cup at the hands of old rivals Rushden after a replay.

They did beat Division Two side Swindon 3-2 in the LDV Trophy but were knocked out of the competition in their first game of December by Brentford.

An unfortunate home defeat to York on December 14, their fourth 2-1 loss in a row, seemed to mark an improvement though.

That proved to be the case as Harriers ended the year on a high note, beating Wrexham 2-0 and Leyton Orient 3-2 before drawing 1-1 at Bury.

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Melligan's eight goals have been crucial as have nine from the intelligent forward play of Bo Henriksen.

Fellow front-man Drewe Broughton shrugged off a long barren spell to score five but has walked a disciplinary tightrope with seven yellow cards and two reds.

Harriers have certainly made the most of loan signings with youngsters Melligan, Mark Clyde, Kenny Coleman and Andy Bishop all providing good contributions.

And the team's excellent away form has perhaps coincided with one of the best midfields seen at Aggborough for some time, despite the sad retirement of Mark Blake.

The engine room has often been firing on all cylinders through influential skipper Sean Flynn, the powerful Danny Williams and rejuvenated wideman Sam Shilton.

But boss Britton will be keen to see Harriers cut down on the goals conceded of late though former player of the year Craig Hinton is starting to impress in the three-man back-line.

Their defensive displays could well prove crucial in deciding whether Harriers can indeed make an impact at the top.